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marc129's review against another edition
2.0
Very heterogeneous collection of annotations: sometimes descriptions, mostly memories, often absurd situations, in some cases very obscure. I think I have to try this one later on.
annika_fabbi's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
guiamonster's review against another edition
5.0
I love Rilke. This book made me cry. It was equally whimsical, heartbreaking, and terrifying. The themes running through it, especially that of childhood, are well written and full-bodied. Rilke is a master and there is none other who even approaches his skill and legacy.
yarnmaus's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
theuncultured's review against another edition
3.0
"Days in peacefully secluded rooms and mornings beside the sea, and the sea itself, seas, nights on journeys that swept by on high and flew past filled with stars..."
I initially wanted to read Letters to a Young Poet but couldn't find it in any bookstore. Therefore the obvious next best thing: Rilke's only novel.
What is this book about? Honestly, I don't know. This is one of those heavy books that rupture from the mind of someone who feels everything in their solitude and writes as their memory unfolds. It is no doubt that this was written by a poet. As much as we can't understand some parts of the text (and the notes in this this edition help immensely), we still relate to every single sentence because we've been there. Anyone who has ever kept notebooks, especially while living alone, understands how this book happened.
Rilke is an interesting character, his style is something new to my eyes, I have never read so many beautiful sentences in one book. This definitely opened up my eyes to a writer that needs to be taken more seriously.
I initially wanted to read Letters to a Young Poet but couldn't find it in any bookstore. Therefore the obvious next best thing: Rilke's only novel.
What is this book about? Honestly, I don't know. This is one of those heavy books that rupture from the mind of someone who feels everything in their solitude and writes as their memory unfolds. It is no doubt that this was written by a poet. As much as we can't understand some parts of the text (and the notes in this this edition help immensely), we still relate to every single sentence because we've been there. Anyone who has ever kept notebooks, especially while living alone, understands how this book happened.
Rilke is an interesting character, his style is something new to my eyes, I have never read so many beautiful sentences in one book. This definitely opened up my eyes to a writer that needs to be taken more seriously.
darioschmidt's review against another edition
5.0
Warum war ich bloß skeptisch? Stilistisch absolut glänzende Miniaturen und sonstige Prosastücke, die aber bei aller (gewollten) Natur des Fragmentarischen doch irgendwie ein einheitliches ganzes ergeben. Wie hat Rilke das nur gemacht? Egal, als nächstes sind die Gedichte dran.
Intensiver kann Literatur quasi nicht mehr sein.
Intensiver kann Literatur quasi nicht mehr sein.
amiboughter's review against another edition
4.0
Read a ghost story before bed then woke up in the middle of the night hearing footsteps on the stairs and a creaking bed... There was no one there. Thanks Rilke.
"I am learning to see. I don’t know why, everything penetrates me more deeply, and doesn’t stop at the place where it always used to end. There is a place in me I knew nothing about. Everything goes there now. I don’t know what goes on there."
"I am learning to see. I don’t know why, everything penetrates me more deeply, and doesn’t stop at the place where it always used to end. There is a place in me I knew nothing about. Everything goes there now. I don’t know what goes on there."
aameem's review against another edition
5.0
The kind of book you could reread 10 times and still find something new in every time.
julayoung's review against another edition
i’ll get back to it some other time when i have the energy for it